Published on: 2026-07-21
Source: Moscow Government – Правительства Москвы –
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In 2025, the city established a new support program for emerging creators — the Mayor of Moscow’s grants for obtaining higher education in in the field of culture and art. The program is aimed at identifying and supporting promising specialists, as well as forming a personnel reserve in the field of culture and art. Residents of Moscow who have successfully graduated from the capital’s art colleges are eligible to apply for grants Department of Culture or having received a general secondary education alongside parallel studies at an art school.
“Grants provide an opportunity to receive free education at the country’s best creative universities for those who were unable to enter on a state-funded basis through the general competition. The students who received grants last year have already passed their first exams at specialized universities. During their studies, they develop large-scale projects in various fields — from painting and computer graphics to musical arts,” said the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the city’s Department of Culture.
Start of application submission
The Mayor of Moscow announced the start of applications on August 1. For the second consecutive year, graduates of schools and art colleges will be able to receive education at the country’s leading creative universities. The grant allows compensation of up to 100 percent of the cost of paid education. This year, 30 grants are provided in the fields of music (including sound engineering), architecture (including graphics and design), painting, sculpture, choreography, and cinema. Support can be obtained for studying at more than 30 leading universities in Russia, among which are the Moscow State Conservatory named after P.I. Tchaikovsky, the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts – GITIS, the Boris Shchukin Theatre Institute, the Moscow Architectural Institute, the Moscow State Academy of Choreography, the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music, and other universities. Applications are accepted from August 1 to 16 at mos.ru.
The competitive selection and formation of the recipient rating will take place by August 28, the conclusion of the agreement with the participant and the transfer of the grant — by October 1.
The grant amount varies depending on the field. Within the music field, five grants are provided, each not exceeding 700,000 rubles per year, including the sound engineering field — not more than 600,000 rubles per year. The architectural field provides 10 grants, each not exceeding 370,000 rubles per year, including the graphics and design field with grants up to 600,000 rubles per year. Five grants are issued for the painting and sculpture field, and five grants are also provided for the choreography field, both not exceeding 600,000 rubles per year. The film field includes five grants, each not exceeding 900,000 rubles per year.
How the competition was held last year
Among the 78 applications submitted by the initial participants of the competition, the expert council for supporting educational projects in the field of culture and art selected 20 winners. The council includes representatives from the Moscow Department of Culture, educational institutions in the fields of culture and art, as well as independent experts, public figures, and cultural figures. They analyzed the quality of creative works, considered academic success in Moscow art schools, and victories in significant professional competitions and olympiads. The students have already moved on to their second year and are building a professional future in the field of culture and art.
Stories of grant recipients
Over the past five years, Moscow art schools have trained more than 50,000 talented students. Approximately 10 percent of them plan to continue their studies at specialized universities and colleges. City support is especially important for young people, as the competition for admission to creative educational institutions is very high. Each year, graduates of Moscow art schools and colleges demonstrate a high level of professionalism to enter capital universities — the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music, the Gerasimov All-Russian State Institute of Cinematography (VGIK), the Surikov Moscow State Academic Art Institute (MGAHI), and other educational institutions. Those who received grants and became students share their first achievements.
Yermolay Kondrashov: “No effort goes unrewarded”
Yermolai Kondrashov began his first creative steps at the Franz Schubert Children’s School of Arts in the class of Zarina Kabulova. Thanks to receiving a grant, he enrolled in the painting faculty at the Surikov Moscow State Academic Art Institute.
“I unexpectedly did well on the entrance exams for the institute, I was very anxious and didn’t believe in myself. I lacked enough points on the Unified State Exam, but here I managed to win a grant — it was my dream. Don’t be afraid, because no effort goes unrewarded, and if you work hard, you will succeed! Now I want to bring more of my ideas to life in art. To paint pictures, organize exhibitions, including for my art association ‘Dry Palettes’,” the young man says.
Yermolai advises everyone who will be applying to arts universities this year to never doubt themselves. He successfully passed the first semester at the university of his dreams.
Ekaterina Vashugina: “Grants provide motivation to work harder”
First-year student of the All-Russian State Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) named after S.A. Gerasimov, Ekaterina Vashugina, is studying in the specialty “animation artist and computer graphics.” Behind the budding animator is the Grand Prix in the “Architecture and Design” category at the Moscow Mayor’s grant competition in the field of culture and art in 2021, victories in the competitions “Archvector” and “Ideas Transforming Cities,” as well as at the V.E. Tatlin Interregional School Olympiad. She was just a few points short of getting a budget place at VGIK: the grant helped Ekaterina Vashugina fulfill her dream. The main foundation for her university preparation was classes at a children’s school of arts with an architectural and artistic focus. “START”.
“Getting admitted to VGIK has been my longstanding dream. I love cinema as an art form and want to understand how this mechanism works from the inside. My choice of specialty is motivated by the desire to learn how to shape the visual style of cinema and master modern digital technologies. I am insanely happy, and a huge thank you for the higher education grant. Actually, grants motivate me to work much harder and learn faster to impress the world with new amazing films in cinema and animation. Now my hobby has become my profession. I encourage all young people to definitely apply for the grant!” says the young artist.
Attitude towards the future profession becomes much deeper during university studies: Ekaterina began to better understand cinematography, animation, and digital technologies. Over the year of study, she realized which subjects interested her the most: art history, film and animation history, cartoon movement, and computer graphics.
Alena Gerasimova: “I want to create my own choir within the institute”
Another grant recipient, Alena Gerasimova, studies at the Moscow State Institute of Culture in the “Popular Music Art” department. Alena learned about the grant opportunity at her music school named after A.K. Lyadov. Her dream is to create her own musical group that will promote genuine art and jazz vocals. Alena Gerasimova is also considering creating a choir within the institute that could participate in concerts and creative projects throughout the academic year.
“I have always treated music with special reverence and understood even before enrolling how important it is to receive quality education in this field. Music is what I live by, so studying has only strengthened my confidence in the chosen path. Thanks to the grant, I study at one of the best universities in Moscow in my chosen field and attend classes with great pleasure. Every day I discover something new, gain valuable knowledge and professional experience, so my expectations have been fully met,” notes the student.
Eva Levchuk: “I am making huge strides in my solo career”
The path to the vocal classes at the Gnessin Academy proved to be challenging for the young musician Eva Levchuk. She successfully graduated from the I.F. Stravinsky Children’s School of Arts in the cello class, but her teachers already noticed her vocal achievements: a beautiful voice, natural musicality, and artistry. Such stories of transitioning from a string musician to a vocalist are well known and offer even greater opportunities for talent development.
Thanks to the financial support of the Mayor of Moscow’s grant for higher artistic education, Eva Levchuk was able to enroll in a prestigious faculty and start a new stage of her creative development. She has now completed her first year at the Faculty of Musical Variety Arts in the department of Variety and Jazz Singing at the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music. The competition for admission to this institution is about 100 applicants per place.
“The Moscow Mayor’s Grant provides an opportunity to focus more on solo creativity and personal development. Receiving free education in any creative field is true happiness. I enjoy my studies largely because I don’t have to worry about how to pay for my education. I am making huge strides specifically in solo creativity. I am immensely grateful that I am actively progressing now, and much of what I achieved this academic year is mainly thanks to the Moscow Mayor’s Grant for higher education,” says Eva Levchuk.
The Moscow Mayor’s Grant in the field of culture and art contributes to the implementation of the goals and objectives of the national project in the capital “Family”. More details about Russia’s national projects and the capital’s contribution can be found at special page.
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